Local Governments are leading the charge to reduce greenhouse emissions despite the Federal Government refusing to ratify the Kyoto Agreement. From July 1999 to June 2004, under the programs such as Cities for Climate Protection (CCP), 131 Local Governments have achieved 2,981,541 tonnes of carbon dioxide abatement. The Australian branch of International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) has been working with Councils large and small to achieve this reduction. World wide, under the ICLEI banner, more than 500 Local Governments are now involved in Cities for Climate Protection to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The number of Australian Councils involved in this program is clear evidence, that at the government level, Local Government is certainly doing its part.
ICLEI’s Chief Executive, Wayne Westcott, says that regardless of international agreements, there is a compelling triple bottom line case for local greenhouse action. He said that Local Governments can be proud of their achievements and ask only that other sectors also play their part in working to reduce climate change.
In 2002, at the Rio plus 10 Conference in Johannesburg, Local Government representatives from Australia, the United States and Canada moved that Local Government leaders urge their national governments to ratify the Kyoto Protocol mandating action on reduction of carbon emissions to reduce the effects of global climate change. Since 2002, the Australian Local Government Association has been calling on the Federal Government to review its position the Kyoto Protocol.
Evidence of climate change is becoming stronger. Decreasing rainfall in many regions has seen large areas suffering prolonged drought for the past ten years. While recent rains have eased the problem in Victoria, New South Wales faces tremendous shortages. Water shortage is also a major issue in Western Australia and South Australia. Scenarios of capital cities facing severe water restrictions are certainly on the minds of a number of our State Governments.
The Kyoto Protocol is the only international agreement that commits nations to controlling their greenhouse pollution. In all, 141 nations, including both developing and industrialised countries, have agreed to be bound by its provisions.
Yet the Federal Government has stood firmly by its decision not to ratify the protocol. Federal Environment and Heritage Minister, Senator Ian Campbell, says that if Australia were to sign up to this treaty it would achieve next to nothing for the environment, but the competitiveness of some Australian industries would be severely harmed and include job losses.
However, Australian Conservation Foundation Vice President, Doctor Peter Christoff, describes Australia’s response to the Kyoto Protocol as a sorry tale of policy inaction and lost opportunities for Australian businesses and industry. He asserts that by failing to ratify the Protocol, now in force, Australian businesses will lose opportunities in the new Clean Development investment markets to be established under Kyoto. His call for a national summit to develop a concerted response to climate change to guide policies at all levels of government should be supported by Councils and their communities.
